Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-24

Not content with the missiles OF ordinary street
ruffianS the mob that bounded Mr. O'Brien yes ter
day at Hamilton reS0rted to powder and ball
Here was the plainest evidence of elaboration
and OF an attempt to kill The hot-blooded fellow
who, In moment OF excitement, picks up a stone
or brick from the ground and hurts 1t at his adj
versary may plead. in extenuation OF his assault
that he simply yielded 10 passing impulse to in
ftct pain The man, however who goes through
the preliminary OF loading pistol and eoncealing
it In HIS pocket goes forth to seek his enemy and
fires at him at close range has no such excuse He
has murder in his soul, whether the wound he in
itcts be mortal or not. In country with gov
eminent worthy the name an effort would be made
10 hunt down yesterdays assailant; but In Cam
ada the same rule holds good in Toronto, Ottawa.
Montreal, Kingston. Hamilton, everywhere: the
police do nothing. The Hamilton incident may
IL IS true be indirectly traceabe to the interior
ence OF an OffclOUs friend who insisted on getting
the orator out OF the hall by roundabout route
instead of through the door of general exit Ii
the police, however, anywhere in the Dominion
had shown as great a regard for the victims OF
mob violence as for the mob itself the officiOus
friend might have conferred with them before put
ing MS plan into operation He can hardly be
blamed for not doing under the circumstances
General Boulanger is the prominent figure In
France to-day, and his popularity seems to have
reached the point where he can make or unmake
cabinets Germany fears him as one who has
shown great organizing ability. and has given
new life and strength to every branch of the
French army The German government however
from polite motives affects to consider him
lightly, and in its newspapers approves his reten
ton as thing much to be desired. Ambitious
leaders in France are jealous of Boulangers
growing influence, and the conservative
element fears him as possible war
breeder. But public confidence is largely with
him His latest interesting recommendation is
that OF partial mobilization rs feature of the
autumn maneuverS- In order to rival the German
military system, the army must be in condition to
pass at word from the peace TO the war footing
so that IL may never be found unprepared IN any
sudden emergency. AT the cost OF a million dol
lars Boulanger proposes TO test practically In this
respect the present military organization. The
simultaneous mobilization OF all the corps in one
OF the military districts viii be ordered without
warning either 10 the time OF as to the district
selected For two weeks every preparation is TO
be made necessary TO meet an actual state OF war.
including the placing Of all the corps on war
footing, calling OUT the reserves. procuring horses
for cavalry and vehicles for transport taking pos
session OF the railways, transferring military
stores and supplies and constructing field rail.
ways This practical test and training would
doubtless be OF service in perfecting the oryaniza
ton OF the French army, and bringing the military
power OF that nation TO the point at which Boulan
ger Is expected by so many OF his cOuntrymen tn
crush Germany and TO give himself a position in
French history second 10 that OF no one but the
first Napoleon